The Hartford Geriatric Nursing Initiative experience in geriatric nursing education: looking back, looking forward.

This article traces the impact of the John A. Hartford Foundation's (JAHF) Hartford Geriatric Nursing Initiative (HGNI) on the geriatric preparation of nursing students. With over 2.6 million practitioners, nurses play a critical role in assuring the health care of older adults. Older adults make up the majority of patient days in hospitals, home care, and nursing homes. Yet, when the JAHF began its investment in geriatric nursing, specific content on care of older adults was woefully absent in academic programs preparing entry- and graduate-level nurses. Clearly, the JAHF HGNI investment in nursing education has paid huge dividends. Baccalaureate nursing students are now likely to graduate with competencies in care of older adults. In the next 5 years, ongoing JAHF HGNI initiatives should yield similar outcomes in associate degree-prepared graduates and in advanced practice registered nurse graduates. This article traces the impact of the JAHF HGNI on nursing education.